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<br />The committees provided valuable direction throughout the course of the <br />effort. Given the wide range of interests that were represented, it is not <br />reasonable to expect that a unanimous consensus be obtained in an effort of <br />this magnitude. However, the contribution of the individuals resulted in a <br />comprehenseive evaluation of their viewpoints and their efforts are gratefully <br />acknowledged, <br /> <br />, <br />, <br />..... <br /> <br />I: <br />..... <br /> <br />'" <br />!I, <br />L. <br /> <br />:[' <br />L... <br /> <br />Ih addition to the periodic committee and public meetings, the Study Team <br />also met individually with more than 20 environmental, economic, and <br />governmental entities, Their input is also gratefully acknowledged.' <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />1.4 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE GUNNISON RIVER BASIN <br /> <br />, <br />! <br />--- <br /> <br />The Gunnison River Basin is located in West-Central Colorado. Its <br />boundary encompasses an area of 8,020 square miles and includes all or major <br />portions of Gunnison, Montrose, Delta and Ouray Counties a~d portions of Mesa, <br />Hinsdale, Saguache and San Juan Counties. It is approximately 145 miles long <br />east to west and 95 miles wide at its widest point north to south. The <br />Gunnison River and its tributaries drain about eight percent of Colorado, <br />Figure 1.1 shows the basin and the boundary of the Study Area within the <br />basin. <br /> <br />I <br />[ <br /> <br />, <br />I <br />-l... <br /> <br />The Gunnison River Basin was controlled by the Ute Indians until a large <br />tract was opened for settlement in 1873, and the remainder of the basin was <br />ceded in 1881. The fi rst settlers were mi ners, many of whom turned to <br />farming and ranching as their means of livelihood when the mining industry <br />declined after 1893. Agriculture soon established itself as the basic <br />industry in the area and extensive agricultural water supply systems were <br />developed in the ensuing years. For the past century, agriculture has been <br />the largest user of water within the Study Area. <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />More recently, recreation has become the other predominant sector in the <br />local economy. The Study Area offers diverse recreational opportunities <br /> <br />L <br /> <br />1-4 <br />